Report: CBS News Wants To Extend Couric’s Contract, With “Significant” Pay Cut

by Mark Joyella | 10:17 am, February 9th, 2011

» 18 comments

A day after CBS News shook up its leadership, replacing CBS News president Sean McManus and handing control of the news division to 60 Minutes executive producer Jeff Fager, comes word the network is eager to keep Katie Couric in her role as anchor of the CBS Evening News–but for far less than she’s making now.

The Daily Beast’s Howard Kurtz reports CBS wants Couric to remain in her post at least through the 2012 elections–a move that would require an extension of Couric’s contract, set to expire in May:

If Couric and the network reach agreement, it will be for an annual salary significantly lower than the $15 million in her original deal. And the source says the new contract would be for a shorter period, running through the 2012 elections, which would essentially buy time for both sides to pursue other options.

Evening News remains in third place, and Couric has reportedly considered a move to daytime TV, but no deal’s been struck. As Kurtz reports, CBS also has no replacement in mind–yet–and that makes an extended deal more likely.

CBS Evening News, CBS News, contract, Howard Kurtz, Jeff Fager, Katie Couric, Sean McManus

JamesA1102

How about letting the personality go and getting a real jounalist for the job. I can name several off the top of my head from Shep Smith to Lester Holt who would be a great anchor for the Evening News.
tatboy

JamesA1102 said:
How about letting the personality go and getting a real jounalist for the job. I can name several off the top of my head from Shep Smith to Lester Holt who would be a great anchor for the Evening News.

I second your recomendations. Good picks both. I don’t see the point of keeping someone who is sinking the CBS ship just because you get a “discount”.
The Real Royal King

JamesA1102 said:
How about letting the personality go and getting a real jounalist for the job. I can name several off the top of my head from Shep Smith to Lester Holt who would be a great anchor for the Evening News.

tatboy said:
I second your recomendations. Good picks both. I don’t see the point of keeping someone who is sinking the CBS ship just because you get a “discount”.

I’d like either. I am very fond of Mr. Holt. I also liked Bill Hemmer at CNN. He’s become a bit silly at FOX and might be too much of a lightweight for nightly broadcast news.

I see no loss if Ms. Couric goes. She did morning shows well, but is out of her league now.
JamesA1102

Or how about someone in-house like Lara Logan. She’s be great too.
notsofast

Send her to “Current Media.”

LOL
Harry Flashman

Wanna see CBS’ evening news ratings go through the roof? Replace this phony with Robin Meade or even Natasha Curry from HLN’s morning show.

They’re both charming, witty, and easy on the eyes. And, I strongly suspect, either of them are easily Couric’s intellectual equals without the fake gravitas.

Actually, I was gonna say that they should replace her with an organ grinder’s monkey which would be vastly more entertaining than the hothouse plant Couric but that there’s that whole “new civility” thing, you know.

That’s me. Just tryin’ tio be nice.
Olby Sucks

notsofast said:
Send her to “Current Media.”

LOL

Exactly my thoughts! She’d fit right in w/the other hacks! Gore and olby can take turns on her!
Lily1214

I rather like Bill Hemmer and I’ve always thought Katie was a bit out of her depth on the evening news.
The Real Royal King

Olby Sucks said:
notsofast said:
Send her to “Current Media.”

LOL

Exactly my thoughts! She’d fit right in w/the other hacks! Gore and olby can take turns on her!

I really don’t think you should be responding to yourself.
wasjustsayin

Harry Flashman said:
Wanna see CBS’ evening news ratings go through the roof? Replace this phony with Robin Meade or even Natasha Curry from HLN’s morning show.

They’re both charming, witty, and easy on the eyes. And, I strongly suspect, either of them are easily Couric’s intellectual equals without the fake gravitas.

Actually, I was gonna say that they should replace her with an organ grinder’s monkey which would be vastly more entertaining than the hothouse plant Couric but that there’s that whole “new civility” thing, you know.

That’s me. Just tryin’ tio be nice.

They’re great, charming women no doubt. But they’re nothing more than teleprompter readers. Not journalists.
Hate her or not, but at least Katie has some hard news chops to back her up. Robin & Natasha do not.
Olby Sucks

The Real Royal King said:
I really don’t think you should be responding to yourself.

Did you leave your spectacles at home, today? My hair is way shorter than notsofast’s hair.
The Real Royal King

Olby Sucks said:
Did you leave your spectacles at home, today? My hair is way shorter than notsofast’s hair.

Please, I am not interested in the short parts of your body, Jeff. I still have recovered from that picture of you in those nasty shorts riding a pony.
TfT

Get rid of her, she is nothing but a liberal elite snob and dem hack; no one trusts a word she says. A waste of time, money and air.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Lyndon-Evans/1534299362 Lyndon Evans

Too bad this didn’t happen in 2006 then maybe some of us grunts who worked in the CBS Radio division could have had our jobs saved by using some of Couric’s pay to cover ours.

What goes around eventually comes around even for the elite of CBS.
Arkansas Steve

Katie, would you like to know what you’re worth?

Take Shepard Smith’s salary, cut it in HALF. That’s what you’re worth to CBS.
X-3

Report: CBS News Wants To Extend Couric’s Contract, With “Significant” Pay Cut

Minimum wage should be about right.
X-3

Arkansas Steve said:
Katie, would you like to know what you’re worth? Take Shepard Smith’s salary, cut it in HALF. That’s what you’re worth to CBS.

Damn, you’re generous.
X-3

TfT said:
Get rid of her, she is nothing but a liberal elite snob and dem hack; no one trusts a word she says. A waste of time, money and air.

NO! Keep her, CBS deserves her.